The time in between blog posts has been an absolute whirlwind. Two months ago, we saw the need to make an "emergency" trip to California for a period of counseling and medical care. During this time, we gained a bit of perspective on what ministry should look like for us...and how to prioritize our relationship with God, with each other, and then with our calling.
As a result, we have made the decision to move away from Kosovo. There are a couple of factors that have gone in to this decision; including Rebecca and Kailyn's health issues, educational challenges. Ultimately we realized that we needed to be back in the states in order to focus on some things.
Through our time of counseling, and conversations with our pastors and support we gained a bit of perspective on how we see our ministry, what God was calling us to do, and how we were taking care of ourselves and our family. We realized that our response to the call to Kosovo needed to be revisited.
We have seen God confirm that we called to be involved in Kosovo. We assumed that this meant we would live there long term. So...things are changing a bit.
Michael will continue to be a support raising missionary serving as European Director with Global Baseball. He will travel to Europe 4-6 times per year while also working to develop the domestic ministry of GB.
Rebecca is looking for a job in the Phoenix area. While this will relieve a small amount of the financial need for support, what it will do is provide regular health insurance for our family, and provide Rebecca with meaningful employment (which is something that she has really missed the past couple years). We hope that Rebecca's new job will allow for at least 1 trip per year back to Kosovo.
Justin will start school in Phoenix in the fall and Kailyn will start Kindergarten as well.
Our support needs will not really change, given the higher cost of living in Phoenix and the travel that this change requires. What it does mean is that we can't really "make do" being under supported as we have for the past couple years.
We still need your financial support to make the nation changing work in Kosovo a possibility.
In June and July, Michael will be returning to Kosovo with a team of coaches to do the first ever university level coaches training. We have been welcomed in by the University of Pristina faculty of physical education and sports to help make baseball a regular part of their curriculum. This is an exciting step in seeing baseball established in the nation of Kosovo.
I know it kinda sounds like we have the next couple months all figured out...but in reality, we don't have a clue what the coming days will bring. It's a scary place to be. We don't have a car of our own (well, not entirely true, Michael's parents are providing us with their "old" car as they are in the market for a new one!), we don't know where we will live, we don't have any furniture, and we currently don't have the income to actually live in the states.
But we serve a mighty God. He has always provided for our needs and His word promises that our needs will be provided. We ask you to pray with us as we patiently wait to see what He's doing...and pray that we will be sensitive to his leading and obedient to His calling.
If you're not receiving our email updates (and you'd like to), please let me know in an email (mdjohnstoneATgmail.com) and I'll get you added to our distribution list.
You can also send an email to the above address if you like to hear more about Michael's ministry with Global Baseball and how you can be part of the team,
If you'd like to support this ministry financially, you can do so at Global Baseball's online giving platform.
As a result, we have made the decision to move away from Kosovo. There are a couple of factors that have gone in to this decision; including Rebecca and Kailyn's health issues, educational challenges. Ultimately we realized that we needed to be back in the states in order to focus on some things.
Through our time of counseling, and conversations with our pastors and support we gained a bit of perspective on how we see our ministry, what God was calling us to do, and how we were taking care of ourselves and our family. We realized that our response to the call to Kosovo needed to be revisited.
We have seen God confirm that we called to be involved in Kosovo. We assumed that this meant we would live there long term. So...things are changing a bit.
Michael will continue to be a support raising missionary serving as European Director with Global Baseball. He will travel to Europe 4-6 times per year while also working to develop the domestic ministry of GB.
Rebecca is looking for a job in the Phoenix area. While this will relieve a small amount of the financial need for support, what it will do is provide regular health insurance for our family, and provide Rebecca with meaningful employment (which is something that she has really missed the past couple years). We hope that Rebecca's new job will allow for at least 1 trip per year back to Kosovo.
Justin will start school in Phoenix in the fall and Kailyn will start Kindergarten as well.
Our support needs will not really change, given the higher cost of living in Phoenix and the travel that this change requires. What it does mean is that we can't really "make do" being under supported as we have for the past couple years.
We still need your financial support to make the nation changing work in Kosovo a possibility.
In June and July, Michael will be returning to Kosovo with a team of coaches to do the first ever university level coaches training. We have been welcomed in by the University of Pristina faculty of physical education and sports to help make baseball a regular part of their curriculum. This is an exciting step in seeing baseball established in the nation of Kosovo.
I know it kinda sounds like we have the next couple months all figured out...but in reality, we don't have a clue what the coming days will bring. It's a scary place to be. We don't have a car of our own (well, not entirely true, Michael's parents are providing us with their "old" car as they are in the market for a new one!), we don't know where we will live, we don't have any furniture, and we currently don't have the income to actually live in the states.
But we serve a mighty God. He has always provided for our needs and His word promises that our needs will be provided. We ask you to pray with us as we patiently wait to see what He's doing...and pray that we will be sensitive to his leading and obedient to His calling.
If you're not receiving our email updates (and you'd like to), please let me know in an email (mdjohnstoneATgmail.com) and I'll get you added to our distribution list.
You can also send an email to the above address if you like to hear more about Michael's ministry with Global Baseball and how you can be part of the team,
If you'd like to support this ministry financially, you can do so at Global Baseball's online giving platform.
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